THIS early, plans are already being hatched in preparation for a more extravagant Sinulog in 2010, which will be its 30th year.

Cebu City Acting Mayor Michael Rama is eyeing a grander finale production with the use of a rotating stage made possible by hydraulics.

It will also be the year when he will hopefully become Cebu City mayor, after being anointed last year by Mayor-on-leave Tomas Osmeña as his successor.

Rama is the over-all chairman of the Sinulog Foundation Inc. (SFI).

“It will be a bigger celebration. As early as now, we are doing post-evaluation, considering that we must start the planning for next year,” said SFI executive director Ricky Ba-llesteros.

Winners

Yesterday, the SFI and the City Government formally handed the trophies and the cash prizes to the winners of last Sunday’s grand parade.

Winning contingents also did repeat performances, including Sinu-log-based category grand prize winner Sinanduloy Cultural Troupe of Tangub City, Misamis Occidental, and Free Interpretation category winner Tribu Buyo-gan of Abuyog, Leyte.

Tangub took home a total of P1 million after also winning the best in street dancing honors, while Abuyog received P500,000 for the grand prize.

Also, the City Department of Public Services (DPS) has successfully cleaned the Sinulog route, hauling 250 tons of garbage from 8 p.m. last Sunday up to yesterday morning.

ABS-CBN reported that garbage was still seen on Gorordo Ave. because of the huge volume of trash revelers left behind.

Street cleaners and volunteers, however, worked continuously until all roads were cleaned.

Thank

During the awarding ceremony, Rama especially thanked DPS Chief Dio-nisio Gualiza and the Association of Barangay Councils for taking care of the garbage problem.

Aside from DPS garbage trucks and personnel, barangay workers and trucks were also deployed in cleaning the 5.1-kilometer Sinulog carousel route and the vicinity of the Basilica del Sto. Niño and the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral, where most of the devotees gathered since the start of the activities leading to the feast day.

In the past Sinulog festivities, the City Government has rewarded the garbage collectors for cleaning the city after the celebration.

Rama, though, had said that he does not wish to discuss any form of reward, saying employees are expected to do their job. (RHM/Sun.Star Cebu)